Safety shoe having an instep and metatarsal protector



C- S. TURNER April 20, 1965 SAFETY SHOE HAVING AN INSTEP AND METATARSALPROTECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 20, 1963 1&4

ATTORNEY r m my mu S s U P U4 C (Q-g m 113M C. S. TURNER A ril 20, 1965SAFETY SHOE HAVING AN INSTEP AND METATARSAL PROTECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed May 20, 1963 l4- "';""I'II// lbl ill! n if INVENTOR.

Ca vus 5. Turner C Lgs/n a/ ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,178,836 ISAFETY SHQE HAVENG AN INSTEP AND METATARSAIL PRQDTECTUR Cyrus S. Turner,134 E. Main St., Hopidnton, Mass. Filed May 2t), 1963, Ser. No. 281,5553 Qlairns. (Cl. 36-72) This invention relates to a safety shoe, and moreparticularly to a shoe which has a built-in protection for the instepand toes against the blow of a heavy object dropped onto the foot.

In a standard work shoe, a steel box is incorporated in the toe, butthat does not protect the foot against an object striking the metatarsalarch or the instep. A recent attempt at solving this problem hasinvolved the application of a one or two piece rigid reinforcementapplied on the outside portion of the shoe, but this reinforcement,being external and having an exposed front edge provides a seriousdisadvantage, in that a wire or a sharp edged object could be insertedor catch beneath the reinforcement I and perhaps cause an accident.Moreover, such a reinforcement is not flexible enough to permit a readybending of the foot during the ordinary acts of walking, and thestiffness of the reinforcement may, in fact, cause injury to the foot.

It is a primary object of this invention to overcome such disadvantagesand to provide a shoe construction which protects not only the toe butalso the tarsal 0r instep and metatarsal parts of the foot, and whichpermits ready bending of the foot during the acts of walking or workingin a stooped position.

Another object is to provide a reinforcing arch plate over themetatarsal portion of the foot as well as over the toe and to provide aseparate protector over the instep or tarsus which can move relative tothe reinforcing p.ate

to permit easy walking, but which is so secured in place in the shoeconstruction as to be held always in a correct position of protection.Further object will be apparent in the following disclosure.

in accordance with this invention, I build a strengthening upwardlyconvexed arch plate arranged to serve as .a protector over themetatarsal portion of the foot, which may be integral with or separatefrom a reinforcing toe box. This arch shaped plate is mounted on theshoe sole and provides a platform on top of which a strong andsubstantially inflexible instep or tarsus protector is mounted andarranged for a sliding movement relative to the arched plate to provideshoe flexibility. Both the metatarsal and tarsus protectors may beformed of steel or a suitable strong and rigid plastic which can resistthe impact of a heavy object falling on the foot. The tarsus protectorbeing arranged at a large angle to the horizontal, transfers a majorportion of an impact blow to the arch plate. Each of these reinforcementmembers is covered over with the leather or other fabric used for theouter surface of the shoe, and the structrue is such that the shoe has acontinuous and uninterrupted surface from the toe rearwardly toward theinstep. To permit access to the shoe, the tarsus protector is secured toone side only of the shoe upper adjacent to the eyelets for the shoelace, and both sides of the protector may have eyelet holes through withthe lace may be threaded. The reinforcing arch plate may be lasted intothe shoe construction and so arranged that a flanged edge is supportedon the sole.

Referring to the drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a partly completed shoe;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view broken away of the front portion of the shoebefore the addition of the fabric covering shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the metatarsus protector taken on the line3--3 of FIG. 2;

ice

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the front fabric covering before it is lastedwith other portions into the shoe form;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4 but with under and overtongues attached thereto and which is to be lasted over the structure ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary exaggerated longitudinal section on the line 66of FIG. 5 after superimposition of the structure of FIG. 5 on that ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an exaggerated sectional view on line 7--7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a plan View of the instep protector, having attached to oneside a fabric member arranged to be stitched onto the underside of theupper;

FIG. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a side view of the protector.

In accordance with this invention I have provided a workmans shoe with atoe box 10, ordinarily made of steel, and a rigid arched protector plate12 over the metatarsal portion of the foot. Associated with themetatarsal arch plate 12 is a rigid tarsal or instep protector 14connected laterally (FIG. 7) near one edge portion to one of the twoportions 15 of the upper fabric which are to be laced together. Theprotector 14 is arranged to slide on the top bridgelike surface of thearch plate 12, as the wearer bends the shoe in the ordinary course ofwalking.

The front toe box 16 and the arch plate 12, which may be made integralas a single piece, are each preferably made of steel or a rigid andstrong plastic capable of withstanding a severe blow caused by an objectfalling onto the wearers foot. The instep protector 14 is similarly madeof steel or other rigid and strong plastic material and it is arrangedfor transferring a considerable portion of an impact blow to the top ofthe arch plate 12 and thereby protect the delicate bones of the wearersinstep. The instep protector 14 may be made of suitable width and lengthas well as a shape which conforms to the wearers instep such as is shownin FIGS. 8, 9, and 10. It is also preferred that this protector 14 maybe made of such shape and dimensions that it may fit under the tworelatively movable and connectable edge portions of the upper 15 whichhave the eyelets 16 adapted to carry the shoe lace and thereby provideno obstruction under which the free end of a wire or other object mightcatch.

In the manufacture of a shoe, the fabric portion 18 (FIG. 5) whichcovers the shoe front is to be lasted into position over or around thesteel box toe 10 and the arch plate 12 and it is suitably secured to theshoe sole as by means of a welt or other means (not shown) in accordancewith standard practice. Both the toe box and the arch plate 12 have widehorizontal flanges 19 (FIG. 3) riding on the sole which transmit anyblow to the latter. The front covering fabric 18 is preferably cut out,as shown in FIG. 4, to provide the opening 20 which is slightly wider inboth dimensions than the width of the lower end portion of the protector14. The edges of this cut out 2t) form sides of a slideway (FIG. 2)which aid in guiding the protector in its sliding motion. However, thefabric 18 may be left uncut except for a narrow slot through the fabric.Since there must be flexibility of movement of the protector 14, Ipreferably secure a strip of elastic webbing 22, as by means ofstitching 23 at its two ends to fasten its ends only to the covering 18(FIG. 5) on the opposite sides of the cutout 20. The cutout 2t) may benarrowed to a slot through the fabric 18, but as shown there is a slot24 (FIG. 5) above the elastic 22 and through a medial extension 25 ofthe lining 18, through which the protector 14 may be inserted fromabove. That is, the protector 14 lies over the lining extension 25 andthe latter aids in protecting the foot from abrasion or friction. Anupper cover 26, slightly wider than the hole 26, is stitched to thefabric 18 around the hole sides and front by means of a stitching 27(FIG. 5) so that this upper cover 26 not only covers the hole 29 but itconceals the protector 14, as shown in FIG. 6. The various fabrics aregreatly exaggerated in thickness in FIG. 6, but they are so shaped asnot to provide obstructing ledges which would catch onto wires or edgedobjects.

In order to hold the protector 14 in place, a strip of fabric 28 issecured as by a layer of cement 29, to the edge portion of the protector14, as shown in FIG. 7. The protector 14 is provided with holes 30adapted to be brought into alignment with the shoelace eyelets 16, andthe parts are so arranged that the shoe lace may be inserted through thetwo sets of eyelets 16 and holes 30 and thus secure the protector to theeyelet edges of the upper port-ion 15.

As above stated the toe box and the arch plate 12 may be either integralor separate pieces as desired, and the arch plate 12 is preferablyshaped to'p'rovide a rearwardly curved edge 32 (FIG. 1) which thusprovides a greater length of contact between the arch plate and the shoesole 33. The arch plate is sufficiently wide, lengthwise of the shoe,and the tarsus protector 14 is of such length that the protector mayslide on the upper face of the convex support 12 for the instepprotector 14 to the extent required for the normal bending of the shoe.

When the fabric of FIG. 5 has been assembled over the shoe parts of FIG.2, the metatarsus protector 12 and the tarsus protector 14 are fullyconcealed, and the shoe has the normal appearance of a work shoe. Itwill be understood that in assembly, the protector 14 is insertedinwardly from above through the slot 24 to a position of riding directlyon the arch plate 12. This leaves the upper cover 26 above the protector14, while the under lining extension is located between the protector 14and the wearers instep and thus relieves the latter its upper portionprotectively mounted over the instep ofthe wearer. The tarsal or instepprotector is mounted at a considerable angle to a horizontal plane, whenin its normal position over the instep, so that the'impact energyderived from a body falling onto the instep is transmitted by theprotector 14 to a large extent directly to the impact resisting archplate over the metatarsal por-.

tion of the foot. In order to provide for ease in Walking, the instepprotector is arranged to slide longitudinally of the top surface of theconvex metatarsus protector plate 12. That protector 14 is preferablymovably secured in position by the provision of two sets of holesadapted to be brought into alignment with the eyelets through which theshoe lace is threaded. One edge portion of the protector 14 may besecured permanently to one side of the upper, and it is sufficientlymovable so that the foot of the wearer may be readily inserted into theshoe. In order to provide a substantially smooth outer surface for thefront portion of the shoe and prevent wire or sharp edged objects fromcatching under the protector 14, cover 26 is secured to the shoe inposition An elastic fabric sewed to the two side portions of the upperwhich are to be laced together aids in holding the protector in positionand thereby provides flexibility of the parts for shoe movement. As willbe appreciated, the tongues and other parts of the shoe may be made ofany suitable fabric, such as leather or cloth or a plastic of anappropriate composition. It will also be appreciated that the tarsusprotector is made concave in a longitudinal dimension as indicated inFIG. 10, so that it will conform substantially to the shape of theaverage wearers foot. The term rigid used herein to apply to theprotectors 12 and 14 is a relative term, since the various parts may beslightly yielding provided they are able to resist impact and meet thevarious requirements of a safety shoe. By this construction, themetatarsal and the tarsal portions of the foot are protected against theimpact of a falling body and the blow is transmitted primarily to therigid arch plate 12 and not through the bone structure of thewearersfoot. Hence, the arch plate is of primary importance in itsability to resist such impact, and the tarsus protector is so shaped andarranged that it will shunt the blow striking the instep of the footprimarily onto the impact resisting arch plate.

It will now be appreciated that various modifications may be made inthis structure to satisfy the above objects of the invention. Hence, theabove disclosure is to be interpreted as defining the principles of theinvention and a preferred embodiment thereof and not as imposinglimitations on the appended claims. The terms arch, arched and archplate as applied to the convex protector plate 12 are usedwitharchitectural significance, and the terms metatarsus and metatarsal archare used anatomically to refer to that portion of the human foot whichis located between the toes and the tarsus or instep.

What is claimed as novel and useful is:

1. A safety shoe comprising a sole and an upper secured together, animpact resisting upwardly arched plate of rigid material which hasdepending sides supported rigidly on the sole and a top portion shapedand adapted for extending over and protecting the metatarsal portion ofthe wearers foot, said upper having two opposed relatively movable andconncctable front edge portions which are adapted for securing the shoeon the wearers foot, a rigid elongated instep protector plate locatedbeneath said edge portions which is shaped and adapted to fit over andprotect the tarsal portion of the wearers foot, said protector platehaving its lower end freely mounted on said arched plate for alongitudinal sliding movement thereon, and means for preventing amaterial lateral movement of the protector plate as it slideslongitudinally during a normal flexing of the shoe.

2. A safety shoe according to claim 1 comprising a lining locatedbeneath the protector plate and a tongue shaped cover means connected tothe upper in position where it lies over and conceals the protectorplate and prevents a direct contact of the latter with external objects.

3. A shoe according to claim 2 in which a part of the upper lining whichlies beneath the protector plate has a slot through which the protectorprojects into contact with said arched plate protector, the sides of theslot serving to guide the protector in its sliding movement.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,842,872 7/58Shultz 36-72 2,988,829 6/61. Johnson -1 36-72 3,082,553 3/63 Wilmanns36-72 3,101,559 8/63 Smith 3672 3,102,347 9/63 Griswold et al. 36723,108,386 10/63 MacQuaid 3672 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

FRANK I. COHEN, Examiner.

1. A SAFETY SHOE COMPRISING A SOLE AND AN UPPER SECURED TOGETHER, ANIMPACT RESISTING UPWARDLY ARCHED PLATE OF RIGID MATERIAL WHICH HASDEPENDING SIDES SUPPORTED RIGIDLY ON THE SOLE AND A TOP PORTION SHAPEDAND ADAPTED FOR EXTENDING OVER AND PROTECTING THE METATARSAL PORTION OFTHE WEARER''S FOOT, SAID UPPER HAVING TWO OPPOSED RELATIVELY MOVABLE ANDCONNECTABLE FRONT EDGE PORTIONS WHICH ARE ADAPTED FOR SECURING THE SHOEON THE WEARER''S FOOT, A RIGID ELONGATED INSTEP PROTECTOR PLATE LOCATEDBENEATH SAID EDGE PORTIONS WHICH IS SHAPED AND ADAPTED TO FIT OVER ANDPROTECT THE TARSAL PORTION OF THE WEARER''S FOOT, SAID PROTECTOR PLATEHAVING ITS LOWER END FREELY MOUNTED ON SAID ARCHED PLATE FOR ALONGITUDINAL SLIDING MOVEMENT THEREON, AND MEANS FOR PREVENTING AMATERIAL LATERAL MOVEMENT OF THE PROTECTOR PLATE AS ITS SLIDESLONGITUDINALLY DURING A NORMAL FLEXING OF THE SHOE.